Oct. 15, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The No. 11 ranked Penn State field hockey team hits the road for a crucial Big Ten battle with No. 6 Ohio State on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Buckeye Varsity.
A LOOK AT THE LIONS
HAIL TO HALUS
Sophomore goalkeeper Ayla Halus has been nothing short of sensational in the cage for the Nittany Lions. During her first season as the team's full-time goalie, she has posted an incredible .849 save percentage, which ranks second in the nation. She trails Virginia All-American Kim Kastuk by only .003 but has posted 21 more saves during the 2010 campaign.
BEST IN THE BIG TEN
Halus was honored as the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Week for the third time this season after her performance against Michigan State last weekend. During the team's thrilling 4-1 victory over the No. 7 Spartans, Halus recorded nine saves. She was also honored by the league on September 6 and September 20. She joins Annie Zinkavich and Jamie Smith as the only Nittany Lions to earn the honor three times in a single campaign.
AMY ON THE ATTACK
Sophomore Kelsey Amy has been at the forefront of the team's offensive attack in 2010. During the year, she ranks ninth in the nation with a 1.08 goals-per-game average. Overall, she leads the team and stands third in the Big Ten with 13 goals and 28 points. She has been especially accurate lately with seven scores in the last three games, highlighted by a four-goal effort against Monmouth.
TURNING THE CORNER
Penn State has used an exceptionally successful penalty corner combination to stabilize one of the top attacks in the country. Entering the week, the Nittany Lions ranked sixth in the nation averaging 9.33 corners-per-game. Jessica Longstreth and Kristen Schaefer have been at the forefront of the team's success as the two have combined for 18 assists and helped generate nearly one-third of the team's goals off of successful corners.
RATINGS ON THE RISE
Buoyed by the team's eight wins in its previous nine outings, Penn State has been steadily climbing in the national Ratings Percentage Index. In the most recent RPI released this week, the Nittany Lions stand sixth in the country. They are currently the highest ranked team from the Big Ten with Michigan and Ohio State standing seventh and eighth, respectively.
OVERWHELMING THE OPPOSITION
In 12 games this season, Penn State has held an advantage in either shots or corners during every contest except one. The Nittany Lions' aggressive attack has outshot its opponents by a commanding 215-136 margin in 2010 and holds a 112-64 advantage in penalty corners. PSU trailed in both categories for the first time all season against Michigan State last weekend but still managed to collect a 4-1 victory.
STRIKING A BALANCE
Penn State's offense has been a well-balanced attack throughout the 2010 season. Although Kelsey Amy has accounted for the lion's share of goals with 13, five other players have at least four. Hannah Allison has tallied five on the season, while Jessica Longstreth, Brittany Grzywacz, Lauren Purvis, and Daneen Zug have all chipped in with four. No other team in the Big Ten can boast such an equal-opportunity offense as none of Penn State's conference counterparts have produced more than four players with four goals.
A PERFECT 10
Throughout the season, 10 Nittany Lions have started each of the team's 12 games. Lauren Alloway, Ayla Halus, Alex Schlener, and Daneen Zug have anchored the defense in every game this year. Jenny and Lauren Purvis, Jessica Longstreth, and Brittany Grzywacz have been standouts in the midfield during each contest, while Kelsey Amy and Hannah Allison have stabilized the attack. Adding in Kristen Schaefer, who has cracked the rotation in each of the last nine games, and the same starting lineup has been used during the team's recent 8-1 run.
LAST TIME OUT
In a battle featuring a pair of top-20 teams, Penn State pulled out a thrilling 4-1 victory over No. 7 Michigan State on October 8 in East Lansing. During the contest, Ayla Halus posted nine saves, marking the fourth contest of the year in which she has reached that number. Kelsey Amy also blasted home a pair of goals, including the opener less than one minute into regulation. Daneen Zug and Hannah Allison also netted scores for the Lions.
SCOUTING THE BUCKEYES
OHIO STATE ON THE OFFENSIVE
Ohio State boasts a strong offensive attack that ranks near the top in the nation in several key statistics. Entering the week, the Buckeyes stood third in the country in assists-per-game (1.25), fifth in points-per-contest (10.25), and sixth in penalty corners-per-game (9.33). The team's .750 winning percentage and 3.18 scoring average also rank in the top-15.
ALL EYES ON THE AISLINGS
Senior Aisling McKeon and junior Aisling Coyle have been a potent combination for the Buckeyes throughout the 2010 season. Coyle leads Ohio State with 23 points and 15 goals, while McKeon has a team-high 15 assists. Together, they have had a hand in 26 of the team's 40 goals and joined forces for nine scores during the season.
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR
The Buckeyes boast players who hail from six different nations spread across the globe. In addition to the United States, Ohio State has players from Trinidad and Tobago, Scotland, Ireland, and Switzerland as well as a troika of talent from Spain. The diversity is not limited to the international realm as the team also has players from five different states.
LAST TIME OUT
Ohio State posted a 5-1 victory over in-state rival Miami (Ohio) during an October 7 contest at Buckeye Varsity Field. OSU opened the game with a lethal attack that resulted in four goals in the first-half. Sophomore Berta Queralt led the way with two goals and an assist. The victory extended the Buckeyes' winning streak to three games.
SERIES AT A GLANCE
OVERALL OUTLOOK
Dating back to 1977, Penn State and Ohio State have squared off 42 times. During those meetings, the Nittany Lions hold a 32-8-2 advantage.
ROAD WARRIORS
During the 19 all-time contests held in Columbus, Penn State has posted a 13-3-2 record against the Buckeyes. The Nittany Lions have captured six of the last seven contests in rival territory, including each of the last two battles. On September 28, 2008, PSU posted a 1-0 victory after tallying a 3-0 shutout on the road in 2007. Ohio State last won at home in 2006 when the squad recorded a 4-3 overtime victory.
LAST MEETING
Last year the Lions posted a pair of 2-1 victories over the Buckeyes. During their regular season bout at the Penn State Field Hockey Complex, Ali Meves was brilliant in the cage as she posted 11 saves. Jessica Longstreth and Kelsey Amy provided the offense with a goal apiece. The two teams met again in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament with a similar outcome. In East Lansing, the Nittany Lions upended the Buckeyes by a 2-1 margin as Amy provided all of the offense with a pair of scores.